Thimonier: France Waits for Reactions on Methodology Non-Paper

France first expects reactions to the non-paper from all EU member states, while also attentively listening to the remarks by the Macedonian side as well, stated French Ambassador Christian Thimonier on Monday, when answering a journalist’s question after meeting Constitutional Court President, Sali Murati. The French non-paper, dedicated to the new methodology in the negotiation process, as Thimonier pointed out, has already been delivered to all EU member states, and following the instructions that the French ambassador received from the French government, the document has also been delivered to the Macedonian government as well. “In fact, these are the French opinions sent to all EU member states and I have delivered them to the Macedonian authorities following the instructions of my Government and we expect the reactions of the member states first, but we will also be very careful and hear the remarks from the Macedonian side,” said Thimonier. He announced that he would meet Monday Bujar Osmani, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs on Monday, who he said would hear about his thoughts on the French document, and announced meetings with other officials in the country. However, Thimonier pointed out, the most important thing is respect and functioning of the rule of law and added that it is a matter that everyone agrees on. In an interview with Alsat-M, Minister Osmani stated that the most important thing is for the European Council, while approving the new methodology, to also approve the start of the negotiations for the country.